Portable gas cylinder crate

ABSTRACT

A portable cylinder crate for providing a receptacle which facilitates the storage, transportation and use of a conventional gas cylinder includes a cuboid crate body which defines a hollow, five sided member with a framed mesh bottom and four framed mesh sides. Two of the sides include a recessed portion in its top edge to provide unobstructed access to a dispensing valve of a conventional gas cylinder stored in the crate body. The other two side include cut out handles suitable to be grasped by a user without altering the flat side profile of the cylinder crate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to holding receptacles and, more particularly, to a crate for a compressed gas cylinder that includes panels with handle cut outs and panels adapted to not obstruct a dispensing spout/valve on a enclosed cylinder.

Description of the Prior Art

The use and design of conventional twenty (20) pound steel cylinders for transporting, storing, and delivering various liquefied gases is well known. One common gas which is often stored in and utilized from such cylinders is propane, typically for use as a fuel for barbecues and portable stoves. A problem which still exists, however, is that such fuel cylinders are prone to falling over and shorting out, often causing burn injuries to those nearby. Established solutions to prevent such tipping are limited as they often involved a storage receptacle which is welded down rendering completely useless portability is desired. Thus, there remains a need for a portable cylinder crate suitable for a gas cylinder which can maintain a cylinder in an upright position without requiring the crate be fixed to a single location. It would be helpful if such a portable cylinder crate included cutout handles which allow the crate to be more easily grasped when it is desired for the crate to be moved while not altering crate's flat side profile. It would be additionally desirable for such a portable cylinder crate to include a five sided frame formed from rigid, framed mesh panels which reduce the weight to increase portability.

The Applicant's invention described herein provides for a portable cylinder crate adapted to hold a conventional gas cylinder upright as well as provide an effective structure for transporting the same. The primary components in Applicant's portable cylinder crate is a crate body with framed mesh panels. When in operation, the portable cylinder crate enables a user to store, use and transport a gas cylinder all while positioned in the same receptacle. As a result, many of the limitations imposed by prior art structures are removed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A portable cylinder crate for providing a receptacle which facilitates the storage, transportation and use of a conventional gas cylinder. The portable cylinder crate includes a cuboid crate body which defines a hollow, five sided member with a framed mesh bottom and four framed mesh sides. Two of the sides include a recessed portion in its top edge to provide unobstructed access to a dispensing valve of a conventional gas cylinder stored in the crate body. The other two side include cut out handles suitable to be grasped by a user without altering the flat side profile of the cylinder crate.

It is an object of this invention to provide a portable cylinder crate suitable for a gas cylinder which can maintain a cylinder in an upright position without requiring the crate be fixed to a single location.

It is another object of this invention to provide a portable cylinder crate which includes cutout handles which allow the crate to be more easily grasped when it is desired for the crate to be moved while not altering crate's flat side profile.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a portable cylinder crate to which includes a five sided frame formed from rigid, framed mesh panels which reduce the weight to increase portability.

These and other objects will be apparent to one of skill in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a handle side elevational view of a portable cylinder crate built in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a valve side elevational view of a portable cylinder crate built in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a portable cylinder crate built in accordance with the present invention with a conventional cylinder disposed therein.

FIG. 4 is a valve side elevational view of a portable cylinder crate built in accordance with an alternate mesh pattern embodiment of the present invention with a conventional cylinder disposed therein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings and in particular FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, a portable cylinder crate 10 is shown as a cuboid crate body 20 and two cutout handles 30. The crate body 20 defines a hollow, five sided member which includes a bottom panel 21, two side panels 22, and two front/back panels 23 (with an open top). The crate body 20 is constructed such that each of the side panels 22 and front/back panels 23 are attached to an edge of the bottom panel 21, extending up therefrom so as to define a five (5) sided enclosure. In the preferred embodiment, the side panels 22 are positioned opposite one another and adjacent to the front/back panels 23 (which, for a four sided body, results in the front/back panels 23 positioned opposite one another and adjacent to the side panels 22).

The side panels 22, which define the opposing handle sides of the portable cylinder crate 10, each include a solid rectangular frame 22 a and a mesh interior 22 b. The side panels 22 each include a handle 30 which forms a rigid gripping surface suitable to receive a user's hand.

The front/back panels 23, which define the opposing valve sides of the portable cylinder crate 10, each include solid polygonal frame 23 a defined by a recessed portion 24 in its top edge and a mesh interior 23 b. The bottom panel 21 is constructed in virtually the same manner as the side panels 22, including a solid rectangular frame (obscured by the side panels 22, 23) and a mesh interior, except that it does not include handle cutouts 30.

In one embodiment, the exterior of the crate body 20 measures 15.5″×13″×13″ and the interior measures 15″×12″×12″. In one embodiment, the crate body 20 is constructed out of hard plastic.

In one embodiment, the recessed portion 24 provides a 3″ reduction in height of the uppermost edge of the crate body 20. It is contemplated that the recessed portion 24, through this reduction in height of the uppermost edge of the crate body 20, adapts the crate body 20 to provide unobstructed access to the dispensing valve 11 of a conventional gas cylinder 12.

It is contemplated that in alternate embodiments, the attachment portion may define a spring loaded ring (not shown) so as to enable the handle to be selectively fastened into the mesh interior 22 b.

Referring now to FIG. 4, in an alternate embodiment of the portable cylinder crate 10′, the mesh interior of the side panels and the front/rear panels defines an alternate pattern.

The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. 

1. A portable cylinder crate for storing, transporting and using of a conventional gas cylinder, comprising: a crate body defining a hollow enclosure formed from a bottom panel, two opposing side panels, and two opposing front/back panels, wherein said crate body includes an open top and is adapted to receive and hold a single conventional gas cylinder; and at least one of said side panels including a handle cutout and at least one of said front/back panels including a recessed portion which reduces the height of at least a portion of the front/back panel, thereby adapting the crate body to provide unobstructed access to a dispensing of a conventional gas cylinder disposed therein, wherein said bottom panel, side panels, and front/back panels each include a rigid solid perimeter frame and a rigid mesh interior.
 2. The portable cylinder crate of claim 1, wherein said crate body defines a cuboid enclosure and the bottom panel is rectangular.
 3. The portable cylinder crate of claim 2, wherein said side panels are rectangular and the front/back panels have a rectangular profile.
 4. (canceled) 